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A Guide to Eating Vegan in Brighton

Known for its wacky street art, vintage shops and diversity, Brighton is claimed to be the ‘happiest and hippiest place to live in the UK’; it is no wonder that Brighton is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the country. Below, we have compiled a list of vegan-friendly cafes and restaurants that you must try if you ever find yourself visiting ‘London by the sea’.

Wai Kika Moo Kau

Found in the very heart of the North Laine, Wai Kika Moo Kau is a vegetarian/vegan café that has been serving delicious grub for nearly 30 years. The café is spacious with a chilled out homely vibe, while also offering an outside seating area where you can relax after a busy day of shopping.

They do a standard full English breakfast that is available as a vegan option (which comes with a portion of chips), and the most delicious stack of banana pancakes.

Nowhere Man

Speaking of pancakes, if you have more of a sweet tooth, Nowhere Man is the place to go. Situated on Upper North Street, just a five-minute walk from the city centre, this pancake restaurant is a hidden gem.

Nowhere Man isn’t a vegan establishment, but any of the pancakes on the menu can be made vegan-friendly on request, making it a great place to go with your non-vegan friends. The interior is eye-catching and very retro; it almost feels like you have stepped into a living room from the 70s.

If you’re in the mood for something sweet, go for the chocolate banana pancakes. These pancakes are thick and fluffy (American style), and the dark chocolate melts seamlessly throughout, the pancakes absorbing every chunk.

Nowhere Man details:

Trading Post Coffee Roasters

Trading Post is another place to go with omni friends: they have a broad menu with many vegan-friendly options; you can tell they have put effort into making sure that vegans are not missing out.

Trading post are situated in two locations across Brighton; their ship street café is spacious offering an impressive seating capacity, while their North Laine café has recently opened a roof terrace where you can eat your food while overlooking the hustle and bustle of the busy streets below.

They do the most delicious three tier sandwich (yes, 3) made with sourdough bread, BBQ jackfruit, avocado and kimchi coleslaw. Additionally, they offer a very tasty vegan breakfast and even some scrambled tofu on toast. They are a shining example of an omni cafe doing vegan options right.

The Longhouse Café

A vegan café offering mouth-watering food such as a full English breakfast, a ‘tuna’ melt sandwich, and smoked ‘salmon’ with ‘cream cheese’ on toast. Delish! This café is all about presentation without sacrificing the flavour. Visit their Instagram profile to witness their beautifully presented food.

The café itself is rather small with limited additional seating outside, but boy is it photogenic: plants hanging from the ceiling, gorgeous artwork and pretty crockery. Sure, the interior is not important to everyone, but eating in a more aesthetically pleasing environment can make any dining experience more enjoyable.

The Longhouse Café details:

Infinity Foods Kitchen

Infinity foods is a perfect for those who want a quick bite to eat. They do some absolutely delicious ‘lunch-bowls’, ranging from a ‘Arancini bowl’, a ‘BBQ seitan bowl’, a ‘Mezze bowl’ and finally a ‘Thali Bowl’. They also have a breakfast menu which is available until 1pm.

Infinity Foods Kitchen has an upstairs seating area which overlooks the North Laine through its large open windows, and it also has outside seating. You can also get a 10% discount if you are a student or if you bring your own container for a takeaway.

Be sure to check out the Infinity Foods Co-op which is just down the road (25 North Rd, Brighton BN1 1YA); it is essentially Brighton’s version of Whole Foods/Planet Organic, where there is a bakery offering goods such as vegan sausage rolls, pizza, Chelsea buns and shortbread.

Infinity Foods Kitchen Details:

Happy Maki

This little shop might be our favourite mention on this list. Happy Maki is a 100% vegan sushi burrito restaurant. They have 8 glorious burrito variations, including hoisin ‘duck’, Thai sweet potato, crispy ‘cod’ tartare and sweet chilli ‘chicken’. They also provide some equally delicious sides, such as popcorn cauliflower.

As if all this wasn’t enough, for every burrito you buy, they plant a tree and feed a child. Although the seating is limited, the Happy Maki is just a hop and a skip away from the beach — so, if it is a nice day, take full advantage and eat these amazing burritos on Brighton’s famous sea-front!

Happy Maki Details:

BeFries

This chip shop is the place to go if you want to eat some chips on the beach, or if you want a quick snack and don’t want to fill yourself up too much before dinner. BeFries is a prime example of doing one thing but doing it extremely well.

Fries (or as us Brits say, chips): a food that is often overlooked in restaurants, demoted as the side to accompany their main attraction — an afterthought. We wouldn’t usually get worked up over some chips, but believe us when we say that these Belgian style fries are easily the best we have ever tried: irresistibly crispy and salty on the outside, while warm and fluffy on the inside.

They also have an incredible dip menu that goes hand-in-hand with the fries. The majority of the dips are vegan-friendly, such as the garlic mayo, basil mayo and black truffle mayo.

Bonus tip: if you tell the employees that it is your first time trying BeFries, they will offer you some sample dips to try with your fries!

BeFries Details:

Purezza

Purezza has established itself as a seriously good pizzeria serving some deceptively authentic Italian classics — with a vegan twist. From garlic bread to macaroni and cheese, a cheese platter and an extensive pizza menu with a large variety of toppings, you really are spoiled for choice.

It’s no wonder that their ‘Parmigiana Party’ pizza is the winner of the ‘UK’s Best Pizza’ in the National Pizza Awards (we might add that this wasn’t even a vegan pizza contest!).

While we all know that vegan cheese can be very hit-and-miss, Purezza have nailed it. Paired with their puffy sourdough crusts, tangy tomato base and irresistible toppings, Purezza is a must when visiting Brighton.

Purezza Details:

The Bok Shop

While the Bok Shop is predominantly a fried chicken restaurant, you can order a vegan version of their burgers. Additionally, they have a decent range of vegan sides, such as vegan nuggets and cauliflower wings.

It is reassuring that restaurants whose main and original attraction is animal-based have recognised and, thus, accommodated the growing vegan population.

The Bok Shop Details:

Pompoko

Another lesser known restaurant, Pompoko is the place to go if you are craving some authentic Japanese food. From their sides, ranging in price from £1.50 to £3, and their mains £5.50-£6.10, it is a great restaurant to visit if you want to save some money but still indulge in some delicious grub.

Pompoko offer a satisfactory variety of vegan options, such as spring rolls, pumpkin katsu curry and a tofu chilli don. The restaurant is small with some upstairs and outdoor seating. It's an informal formal dining experience, making it a great place to try for a quick lunch or dinner while exploring the city.

Pompoko Details:

Supply and Demand!

Please be aware that there are a few restaurants and cafes on this list that are not 100% vegan, but we hope this doesn’t put you off visiting them. We are firm believers that eating in non-vegan restaurants can be as important as supporting vegan businesses, as once these establishments see that there is demand for vegan options, many will work to make veganism more accessible, which can only be a good thing.

Free PDF Guide to Dining Out in Brighton

We are currently working on a more comprehensive guide to dining out in Brighton. If you would like to receive a (free) copy when it is complete, please use the form below. Additionally, if you would like to contribute to the guide, please get in touch.

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Did we miss anything? If your favourite vegan-friendly haunt isn't on the list, please share the details in the comments below.